My grandma started me on Crochet when I was nine. She had one of those knit/crochet/tat how to books, and I was trying to teach myself that when a neighbor came over and showed me more how to do the knit stitch.
Mostly, though, I did crochet. Over time, I would crochet doilies, afghans, hats, potholders and lace edgings. One filet stitch shawl which was supposed to be a tablecloth, but I decided I had done enough. Mostly I did afghans. Tried to do rugs, but I had trouble with tension. Learned how to make baskets by knitting very, very tightly (like a size seven hook with knitting worsted) from a book called Hard Crochet.
When I was about 12, my grandma had decided to take up knitting and me, my mom, and her spend a summer together where we all knitted a good bit.
Somehow, though, I learned to do it backwards (probably after my grandma went home, and I picked it up after not doing it for awhile), with the front leg of the knit stitch in the back instead of the front. (there are places where this way is standard. I evidently handled my purl stitches backwards, too, so they didn't cross.)
Didn't realize it was backwards until much later when I was in college. I became a nut about Dr. Who and HAD to have some Dr. Who scarves. I made 3 eventually, two knitted, and one crocheted. One of my girlfriends, who was also a Dr. Who fan, had learned to knit in a more organized fashion. She taught me the knitted on caston, and taught me to do my knit/purls the standard way.
Didn't do much more than scarves at that time. After I got married in '99, I decided I needed to learn to knit socks, now having a husband to take care of. So I searched the internet for a good beginner pattern, and did one of the "Another Joan's Socks." It was made out of some cheap white synthetic yarn, and it was defintely not to the proper gauge.
I made another. It seemed more appropriate. I started knitting them in woolease, which made some nice looking socks, but the yarn pilled.
There was a nice yarnstore in Boise where I was at that time. Some of the regia sock yarns were coming out. I bought some. It was fingering weight, and I had the dickens of a time getting used to knitting at that gauge. I knit a ragland sweater about the same time. Decided that socks were more my cup of tea.
I then discovered lace knitting. I got a book called Traditional Knitted Shawls, and started knitting a shawl. Sort of learned to read from charts, but I admit, I'd rather read regular directions. Finally mastered knitting fingering yarn. Became a proficient sock knitter. Designed some socks, and began learning to interpret early Victorian knitting patterns. Ended up putting together some knitting pamplets on Victorian patterns.
Along the way, I discovered many good sites on the internet, and moved to Ogden where I had access to the Needlepoint Joint, which is a great yarn and needlework store. Hung out on the Knitlist and and the Socknitter's list for awhile, and some other crafting lists, and as I moved more and more into reenacting, began to focus mostly on historical stuff.
And that's how I got to where I am today!